Have you heard of Duolingo?
If you have, is it any good? I am hoping to use it to learn Spanish, as it will help me pick up jobs where I live.
I know there is a version for Japanese speakers trying to learn English.

"Japan is very lovely (I work there as an english teacher) and I know you would have loved it. at the next festival i'll light a lantern boat for you. (they do this as a way to help spirits find their way home) Godspeed"

That was a post you made on Jett's content, and it made me tear up pretty good.

There is a japanese monster whose name I can't remember.
It is female with super long spidery limbs and teeth like an angler fish, it crawls on walls. I don't know who else I could ask; I don't suppose you know what it is called?

Yes and no. America was the biggest culture shock of them all so when I came to Japan the blow was a lot softer. A lot of Japanese customs are like Russia ones to so after a couple of months I settled in just fine.

I had taken classes while getting my teaching degree and listened to many tapes so when I got there I could get my point across at least and I was paired with Japanese teachers until it got more smooth. You adapt very quick when your surrounded by the language so I was speaking it pretty good five months in.

I am from Ishimbay which is in the Republic of Bashkortostan and when we came to the states we lived in the suburbs of Chicago in Illinois. Hard to say which I felt happiness in. Each one holds special memories. I suppose right now I am very content with Japan and see myself spending perhaps the rest of my life here.

That's the best way I can think to translate it. Since there is no one word for it, it will translate out as two which makes it kaminari ningyo. That's the literal translation. Otherwise it would be "kaminari no ningyo" which is "Doll of lightning".

Thanks, I appreciate it.
Obviously google translate is my first destination for translation, but not everything translates the way it is intended.
Case in point, translating putting the English expression "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" into Russian and back produces something along the lines of "The vodka is good but the meat is rotten", which has a totally different meaning. Thank you for your time.

No problem happy to help ^_^. With Russian you have to be careful with internet translators. We do not say things so simply like "I went to the store". For us its more like, "To the store I went, yesterday." Some words you have to will also translate different and spirit is almost always meaning alcohol to us and flesh will indicate food. So for us it would be more like, "the soul is strong but the body is weak."

I was with someone once who went through the trouble to learn to say that I looked very nice that day in Russian but they said a few wrong words and it came out like "you're turtle like." To this day I often wonder what it is to be "turtle like" and I often use her broken up phrase with my brother.

The worst ones I am personally responsible for are English to Spanish ones.
I meant to say "I am hungry" (I have a hunger) but I mispronounced the second word so it came out "I have a man"
I then, upon discovering my error, attempted to say that I was embarrassed.
"Embarazada" is the Spanish word for pregnant.

My Japanese was like that for the first year. I'd want to say "oh really?" hontou ni? but instead I would say something more along the lines of "i guess so" which is both very rude and makes me sound like I'm calling them a liar.
or I'd try to say "do it go on" which is a simple "dozo dozo" I said what came out as "just **** it."

So uh... Hey. I came seeking advice about living in Japan... If you're willing to give it, of course. Feel free to ignore me. I can't help but notice how many others have commented on your profile looking for exactly the same thing, haha. You're like some kind of patron saint of outsiders living in Japan, you should be proud of that.
But anyway, yeah... My girlfriend ******* loves Japan, for the anime and the food and the culture, and I kinda like the traditional side (the earthquake-proof houses that have been around hundreds of years, the warring states period, the art and legends, that sort of thing) and it occurred to me that I'd actually love to visit Japan in a few years, so I was wondering a couple of things. Again, you can just ignore this. So like, when you first moved there, as an outsider, did you find it difficult to... live (buy food, have fun in town, that sorta thing), without knowing any of the language? (I have assumed that you went to Japan only speaking Russian and English, correct me if I'm wrong). Was it difficult to travel to places? And learn to use the money and whatnot? I'm sure that when I go there it'll probably be for one to two weeks, not enough time to warrant learning a new language (if I travel to places I intend to stay for a long time, I learn the basic language. I've done this for Italy, Germany and France. ) Is it enjoyable for people who don't like things that people typically like about Japan? I'm not really an anime person, I only like a few video games, you know, that kind of thing. I'm sure it is a wonderful place, I just don't know enough about modern Japan. I don't know. I hope you like it there, anyway. Again, feel free to ignore me, I know I've written a lot. You have a good day, now!

Whenever people tell me their going to come visit or live in Japan the first advice I feel is necessary to give is to do lots of research. I came here working for a company I work for a different one now that brought teachers in from all over the place. Some would have a great experience like I did and would stay long term while others would flee after a month or so. I found that most of the people who fled where the ones who didn't do research and set their expectations to unrealistic levels.
I had the same interest you and your girlfriend share when I was about to come here and I did TONS of research via books,films,documentaries, the works. I took a lot of classes to learn the language as well but like learning English when I came to the states from Russia, you learn your best when your in the culture. Though knowing some words and phrases when you go over certainly helps Since I came over here via a company that put me up in housing I'm not sure how hard it would be to find a house if you just hopped over. Apartments are about the same pricing as they are in the states and the closer you are to the city the more expensive they will be. A good thing to keep in mind to is that apartments unless you want to fork out a lot of money are pretty small. My first one was literally a single space the size of a modest living room with a stove in the corner, a closet with a washing machine, and a bathroom. This is very very normal and takes some getting used to but you'll find it's actually rather cozy.
I think the food is amazing and I always look forward to trying something new when I can. People here really enjoy when your open to trying the different foods they offer and will always try to coax you to do so.
Most things like money and travel I had to get used to over time but I was always able to find someone willing to offer a bit of advice as long as I asked nice. It takes a good deal of patience to adjust to Japanese society and life but if you show that patience and work for it I promise you the outcome is so worth it!.
It's amazing here and I think everyone should get to experience it sometime in their life whether they go to the beautiful countryside or the culture of the city. I hope I was able to answer some questions. If you have any more please don't be shy about asking.
P.S. If your looking to visit for two weeks or so I'd recommend googling tour groups. They have these during different parts of the Japanese holiday year and they go around and see all sorts of sites depending on which one you choose. You always travel in a group and they help you with things like money and the like.

I asked a few, even my fiance, and they always seem to the same reaction. They just kind of shrug and say they are alright. You don't really see a lot of mexicans here so people don't know what to think of them too much

Unless you are given permission and even then I probably wouldn't unless they really really insist it it is VERY rude to call someone by their first name or even without an honorific. Doing either shows a great lack of respect and makes you appear childish. People will always introduce you last name first because that is what you are expected to call them unless your allowed.
I didn't start calling my fiance by his first name until we had been dating for two years. That being said if someone asks you to call them by their first name they are attempting to get closer to you then a mere acquaintance.

Can't help but notice how in anime certain English words are used such as 'originality' (or something that sounded much like it). Does this mean that the Japanese language didn't originally have a select few of these words or have they chosen to use those words for other reasons?

Some of the problems English translators have when making subtitles and moving one language to another I had this problem to when I had to learn English when my native language is Russian is that some words simply do not translate the same. When you have phrases like "yoroshiku" that means so many different things depending on the circumstance and doesn't really have a translation it can be hard to put a word there.
Because of this translators usually have to pick a word to put in those gaps so it can make sense to western audiences.

Halloween is a huge commercial holiday in Japan. There are very few places you can go without seeing pumpkin this or ghost that and there are many fun halloween exclusive foods that come on the market. That is usually where it ends though. You can find some late night Halloween parties in the nightlife districts of most cities and few people will throw their own but that's it. Alas there is no trick or treating here which I found to be a bit of a bummer.

Japanese homes aren't insulated like homes in the states are so prep involves calling the heating company and making sure we are set up for the months we will need it everything is very organized like this. They pretty much have a list of everyone who needs heating and how long they will have it, and I stick to my Russian roots by hanging tapestries on the wall to keep the cold out. This takes a big chunk of my time.

This reason I sadly am not so sure about. In Russia and other European cultures it varies from simplicity to just being poor and without the resources. I've asked a lot of people and answers vary from one of those three to just living a modest lifestyle amongst a tech wonderland.
For this I suppose I don't have a straight answer because I've never been given one. All I can do is make sure the heat is turned on and it will be and make sure my walls are covered which I'm working on .

Oh, and btw, I just noticed your comment about dakimakuras (the body pillows) and the loli/lolicons.

Just wanted to clear up, the term loli is misused on every occasion now. It actually refers to the 'small body frame' and can be used in reference to adults, of course. Also, in anime there are often characters which seem underage, but are actually of legal age. The term 'loli' is also connected to a dressing style (and it's absolutely not something a child would wear, believe me...). I don't know why it bugs me when people associate loli with pedophilia (which is totally gross, absolutely disgusting and omg kill it with fire). Because... it doesn't have any relevance, right?

That's what I noticed, at least. I haven't been to Japan, so I'm not an expert.

My knowledge of the subject is actually very limited. The only time I've been exposed to it is when I see it in anime stores my cousin loves anime so I send her stuff often or when I see people cosplaying. I did have some prior knowledge to lolita fashion since it's actually a retro fashion trend in Russia although it's not as popular as dolls are associated with being stupid and empty headed . When I came to Japan I was actually very interested in girls dressing in Lolita fashion. I'm a sucker for Victorian era dress or anything so that sort of thing was right up my ally. I cannot lie though, when I first saw grown men fawning over underage girls I was very unsettled. I think part of this was because 1.) I've had times when I tutor junior high and I've had to call the cops because grow men were harassing my students and 2.) Because I just didn't understand the culture.
I've since learned a ton about the fascination with "cute culture" and the fact that the age of consent is very different it's 13 for anything that isn't intercourse which is 18 but you can get married at 16. It's very sticky business
Since I come from a culture were sexual violence is a big issue I do get a little freaked out but in learning the culture I'm starting to see that It's not all associate with pedophilia. After all, the story Lolita wasn't about that sort of thing at all either. It was simply about a man trying to relive the memory of someone he lost in his youth I get angry when people associate that story with him being a pedophile to. I feel like their missing the bigger picture.

Well, grown men fawning over underage girls is a totally disgusting, inhumane act which doesn't really have anything to do with liking 'loli', right? Cause, you know, in many 'loli' cases the girls are actually adult, or sometimes even ancient (when it comes to mythical creatures, etc. Picture related to that btw) only looking young (or 'petite' as some people call it). Grown men harassing your students? Was it back in Russia or in US? I know that US has a big problem with that one, I mean, you know about US and the crime rate. They're all ****** up degenerates who don't understand the concept of morality (I've had some unpleasant experiences with them, not only their manners are pitiful, they're also very noisy and rude).

Actually, the age of consent in Japan was a mystery to me. 13 seems like too little for me, and intercourse at 18 is a bit... unrealistic in nowadays societies. Of course I know that Japanese are far more moral when it comes to relationships and don't start their sexual lives at 15 like most western kids (I'd love it if more societies took example from Japanese, the 'Sleeping in one house? But we're only in highschool!' lines are just too cute. Totally not like the moral failure of the US and a good deal of Europe), but I can't help but notice the great dissonance between 13 and 18 when the... interactions could be perceived in various ways.

Also, doesn't getting married automatically mean you are treated as an adult? I know legal systems like that, where normally you have to be 18 to do something, but when you get married, you are treated as if you were 18.

Like I said the consent rules are very strange and there is a lot of fine print and it always throws me off, especially since your considered a legal adult at 20 which is when you have your coming of age day which takes place on the second Monday of January after you turn . They say it's helped crack down on a lot of sex crime in that age group but I don't know the gritty details of it.
The harassing of the students happened about two years after I came to Japan and it was the first time I was offered to tutor Junior high. We had just finished up and let them go when another student ran over to me and told me there was a creepy guy in the school yard. When I got out there he was trying to give them money to lift up their skirts for him these girls were only 14 mind you . I was so horrified that all I could think to do was run over and hit the guy with my bag over and over while someone called the police. It wasn't long after this that I learned that there were establishments in the cities where you can go and see school girls and do lewd acts with them their ages range from 13 to god knows where and it's all perfectly legal.
This is why I always tell my students to go home in either pairs or groups and to carry something that they can defend themselves with if they have to. Even if it is acceptable in establishments I simply cannot stomach the concept of someone asking that of a child legal or not.

Oh, I guess it is kinda strange. I don't know how it 'helped', since that course of actions always work just to cover up the problem with inaccurate statistic than avert the social issues themselves.

So it was in Japan? I didn't know such things happen there, I mean, Japan society seemed far too... moral to do such things.

Yeah, asking a child to do that is more than disgusting... and I hope they still treat it as harassment if someone asks for that outside these 'legal establishments', otherwise there would be no way of defending against such... creatures (sorry but I won't call them humans)

Japan is very moral but they are also very traditional which I don't think is horrible considering I come from a culture where men are gentleman and woman are ladies but in Japan they take it as an excuse to treat woman as second class. Things have gotten better though and they crack down on sexual harassment more then they used to in the past. People actually get jail time whereas in the past they would have to simply pay a heavy fine and they've created woman only train/subway cars to avoid the groping problem. In my eyes it's one thing if someone comes up to me and slaps my ass I'll just turn around and slap the **** out of them but to do that to a child is just disgusting. It's like....whats wrong with you? Do you have no sister or mother? How would you feel if someone treated them like that?